Boris Johnson Demands Immediate UK Troop Deployment to Ukraine
Former Prime Minister Boris Johnson has issued a stark call for the United Kingdom and its European allies to immediately deploy non-combat troops to Ukraine. Speaking in a BBC interview ahead of the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, Johnson argued that such a move is essential to demonstrate Western commitment to Ukrainian freedom and independence directly to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Challenging Current Western Policy
Johnson's proposal marks a significant departure from existing Western strategy. Currently, a "coalition of the willing" involving multiple nations is planning to send troops to Ukraine, but these deployments are strictly contingent upon a ceasefire agreement being reached first, with forces primarily intended to police any peace settlement.
In his interview, Johnson directly questioned this cautious, conditional approach. "If we are willing to do it in the context of a ceasefire, which of course puts all the initiative, all the power, in Putin’s hands, why not do it now?" he stated emphatically. "There is no logical reason that I can see why we shouldn’t send peaceful ground forces there to show our support, our constitutional support for a free, independent Ukraine."
Strategic Risks and Government Response
Western military strategists have largely avoided public discussion of pre-ceasefire troop deployments, fearing that Russia would interpret such actions as a dangerous escalation of the conflict. President Putin himself explicitly rejected Western peacekeeping proposals in September, warning that any foreign troops deployed to Ukraine would be considered "legitimate targets."
Johnson countered this perspective, insisting that Putin should not be allowed to dictate terms to Ukraine and its allies. "It’s about whether Ukraine is a free country or not," he asserted. "If it’s a vassal state of Russia, which is what Putin wants, then obviously it’s up to Putin to decide who comes to his country. If it’s not, then it’s up to the Ukrainians."
In response to Johnson's comments, Britain's Ministry of Defence reiterated the government's established policy. A ministry statement confirmed ongoing work with international partners to prepare for troop deployment, but only after hostilities cease. "The multinational force Ukraine under UK leadership will secure peace for the long term, with the Prime Minister being clear that we will put British troops on the ground following the end of hostilities," the statement affirmed.
Historical Context and Putin's Emboldenment
Johnson, who was a staunch supporter of Ukraine during his premiership in the early stages of the war, also provided a broader analysis of the conflict's origins. He attributed the current situation to what he perceives as a series of Western foreign policy failures that emboldened the Russian leader.
"I think Putin was emboldened by a Western failure in Syria to punish Assad for using chemical weapons," Johnson remarked. He further pointed to the chaotic 2021 withdrawal of US and UK forces from Afghanistan as a critical moment. "I think Putin was further emboldened in February 2022 by what he’d seen in Afghanistan, and a sort of general sense that the West was on the back foot. He’d seen those appalling pictures of Americans being forced to flee Afghanistan and the UK pulling out as well, and that really did embolden him."
Johnson also cited the lack of robust international support for Ukraine following Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea as a contributing factor to the current full-scale war. His call for immediate non-combat troop deployment in peaceful regions of Ukraine represents one of the most direct challenges to Western caution from a senior British political figure since the invasion began.
